Microsoft is betting that Windows 8 will make for a great operating system for tablet users. There are more than a few analysts that feel the same way and think the coming Microsoft tablets will prove to be quite popular.

But Windows 8 isn’t the only big software coming out of Redmond this year. Microsoft is at work on a new version of Office and ZDNet reports that Office 15 will have a new Touch Mode the specifically sets things up inside the application to make it easier to use on touchscreen devices such as tablets. Touch Mode will also be easier to use on an all-in-one computers that have touch screens.

[Source: ZDNet]

The image associated with this story comes from the Office 15 technical preview and clearly see Touch Mode at the top of the page near the document title. The cool part is that the mode can be toggled on and off so you can buy one version of the software you will work on your device whether it has a touch or not.

Full details on Office 15 aren't available yet, but ZDNet cites sources that claim the goal is to launch the Office 15 client, server, and Office 365 by late 2012. At this point, it's not even clear what the name of the suite will be. Considering a late 2012 launch, it could be called Office 2012 or perhaps Office 2013.